BBC Local Live: Leicestershire on Friday 12 February 2016

Summary

Updates for Friday 12 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 Monday

Live Reporting

Calum McKenzie

County council cabinet set out spending planspublished at 14:16
Tim Parker
BBC Radio Leicester political reporter
Like most councils, Leicestershire County has had to handle some late changes to its settlement from central government this year.
It is getting £6.6m more in "transitional" cash to help with funding changes over the next two years but it doesn't radically change proposals they've had to put together to save nearly £27m next year and just over £78m up to 2020.
£19.5m of savings haven't been identified yet.
The extra cash will go on fixing roads, reducing the impact of cuts to special needs transport and other services.
Foxes fan planning on buying a race horse and naming it after Vardypublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016
Leicester Mercury
A Leicester City fan is close to realising his dream of owning a race horse named after his hero Jamie Vardy., external
Image source, Leicester Mercury
County council to increase council tax by nearly 4%published at 13:39
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
That council tax increase of 3.99% is still to be voted on by full council, but it is expected to be given the green light.
So that's something for us all to look forward to in April...
Hinckley Magistrates' Court will close this yearpublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016
Hinckley Times
Hinckley Magistrates’ Court is to close as part of government plans to modernise the justice system. , external
Image source, Hinckley Times
Weather: Mainly dry and bright afternoonpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
This afternoon it'll be mainly dry with a couple of showers possible.
Some brighter spells will also develop.
Highs of 6C (43F).
Loughborough MP to begin railway bridge projectpublished at 12:51
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
The Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan will take part in a ceremonial turf cutting to begin the railway bridge project.
Quote Message
Joining the two halves of the Great Central will place Loughborough at the centre point of an 18 mile heritage line, attracting more visitors and bringing new jobs and investment to Loughborough as well as the wider East Midlands economy."
Nicky Morgan, Loughborough MP and Education Secretary
Latest headlines for Leicestershirepublished at 12:37
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Here's what's happening in Leicestershire:
- Leicestershire County Council's executive has agreed to increase council tax by nearly 4% from April
- Work is set to begin in Loughborough restoring a historic railway bridge
- Leicester Tigers' Ben Youngs returns to the England starting XV for Sunday's game in Rome
Listen: Arsenal vs. Leicester is not decisivepublished at 12:20
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Here's a little bit of what Arsene Wenger has had to say ahead of Sunday's game against Leicester...
Media caption,
Arsene Wenger speaks ahead of Arsenal v Leicester City in the Premier League.
Double blow as police station and court set to closepublished at 12:01
Leicester Mercury
A £4.4 million magistrates' court, which opened just 15 years ago, and a city police station are to close., external
Image source, Leicester Mercury
Roadworks begin on major route in Leicesterpublished at 11:48
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Now come on, admit you've missed them... Roadworks...
Well fear not...they're back...
New Parks Way will be coned off between the Groby Road roundabout and the Glenfield Road/Dominion Road roundabout for the next nine days.
It's so resurfacing work can be carried out, with traffic through the area predicted to increase over the next 10 or 20 years.
Latest headlines for Leicestershirepublished at 11:27
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Here's what's happening in Leicestershire:
- A section of the outer ring road in the north-west of Leicester is being shut tonight for nine days of resurfacing work
- Construction of a new bridge in Loughborough that will re-connect a historic railway line is about to begin
- Leicester Tigers travel to Newcastle Falcons tonight
Jones: Ben Youngs has been 'pushing hard for selection'published at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Here's what England coach Eddie Jones has had to say about Ben Youngs' inclusion in the starting XV for the game against Italy on Sunday.
Image source, Getty Images
"Mako, Ben and Courtney have been pushing hard for selection during training, but they also fit the game plan we want to implement against Italy. Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have a significant roles to play to finish the game," he says.
Railway bridge start 'very exciting'published at 11:06 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Bill Ford, of Great Central Railway, has said the start of their bridge project was "a very exciting moment".
Image source, Great Central Railway
"We have cherished this vision for decades, so to finally make a start on the ground is very important for us," he said.
Which Premier League clubs have been fouled the most this season?published at 10:47
Hinckley Times
Leicester have been awarded fewer fouls than almost any other club in the Premier League this season., external
Image source, Hinckley Times
Heritage railway bridge to be finished in 2019published at 10:35
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
This bridge will not be completed until 2019 and is expected to cost £8m.
Image source, Great Central Railway
Speaking about the project, Paul Kirkman, of the National Railway Museum, said: "Leicester had one of the world's earliest railways and was also a hub of the Midland line.
"This joining of the line seems another positive step towards making the area and region rich in railway heritage, and inspiring a new generation to get involved in our nation's railway story."
Wenger: Leicester are in a strong positionpublished at 10:24
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been speaking about Leicester City in his press conference ahead of Sunday's match at the Emirates Stadium.
Image source, Getty Images
"I believe there is still a long way to go," he said.
"Leicester are in a strong position. They are more convinced with their quality. Their belief has been strengthened."
Tigers duo to start for England against Italypublished at 10:09
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Leicester Tigers duo Dan Cole and Ben Youngs have been named in the England starting XV for Sunday's game against Italy.
Youngs comes in to replace Danny Care at scrum half.
Work to begin on heritage railway bridgepublished at 09:51
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Is it just me or does the start of this bridge project make you go all misty eyed about a golden age of rail travel?
Image source, Great Central Railway
Now we're lucky if we get a seat...
Image source, Great Central Railway
Shop owner helps terminally ill girl go on dream Disneyland trippublished at 09:35
Hinckley Times
The owner of a Hinckley sandwich shop has raised enough money to send a terminally ill three-year-old girl to Disnleyland Paris., external
Image source, Hinckley Times
Bridge to connect 'split' railway linepublished at 09:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live
Work to reconnect two parts of a railway line which was divided into two over three decades ago is due to begin later.
Image source, Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway, between Leicester and Nottingham, was left with a 500m gap after infrastructure, including bridges, were removed.
A new bridge, in Loughborough, is the first stage to rejoin the 18-mile (29km) railway, described by GCR as the "UK's only main line heritage railway".